New Barn Farm, Feather Down Farm, Carlton, Bedfordshire

Less than 30 minutes from the M1 and just an hour from the suburbs, New Barn Farm has a surprisingly remote
feel considering its proximity to London. Along with our three children, we look forward to introducing you to our menagerie of Kunekune pigs, pygmy goats, horses, ponies, donkeys, ducks and chickens. Our knowledge and passion for the business of farming and home-cooked food means you’ll return home both with new perspectives on the countryside, and a full stomach.

The gentle undulations of the Ouse Valley provide a scenic backdrop to off-road cycling and walking for the whole family and you can start both right outside your tent in Blackwell Hole, the field you’ll share with badgers, foxes, owls, woodpeckers and Muntjac deer. For lamb lovers, spring is a special time, and we always need a helping hand to feed orphans.

Our younger guests will also find fun in the woodland behind our eight tents, where they can build their own dens – their energy will be restored at our pizza nights, at which we hand-stretch raw dough and provide extensive toppings. So legendary are they, they’ve had many a mention on TripAdvisor!

Will and Hannah Tongue

Greentraveller's Insight: The New Barn Farm Experience
You'll find the tents dotted around the margins of Blackwell Spinney overlooking Blackwell Hole, a beautiful 6 acre grass field where you'll spot all kinds of wildlife. The surrounding woodland makes a fantastic place for children to come and connect with nature, meeting the animals up close and spending days building dens. This isn't just a place for kids, however; the area is well known for its abundance of footpaths and tracks, providing much opportunity for walking and cycling.

Highlights at New Barn Farm:

• Farm Tour for children
• Building dens in the woods
• Numerous cycle routes
• Pony grooming available

Why is this a greener holiday?

To truly minimise the environmental impact, guests are encouraged to arrive by public transport: the nearest train station is Carlton, just two hours from London, and from there it’s just a short walk or taxi ride to the farm, see: www.traintaxi.co.uk. Onsite the accommodation is very low impact, as the tents are effectively off-grid. There is no electricity and lighting is by candle. Heating and cooking is done on a wood-burning stove. The hot tubs are also wood burning. Much of the produce in the honesty shops is local sourced, either from the farm or other nearby suppliers.

To avoid use of additional transport for the duration of their holiday, there is a wide range of low impact family activities on-site and in the surrounding area, including opportunities for walking and cycling with a good network of footpaths and bridleways plus dedicated areas of open access forestry and lakeside country parks. Also the small market town of Olney is nearby, which a bustling hubbub of quaint independent shops, boutiques and antiques shops famous for its annual pancake race.